Method of and apparatus for maintaining smooth video transition between distinct applications

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for maintaining smooth video transition between distinct applications. Preferably, the apparatus implementing the present invention includes a processor, a secondary memory and a system memory. In providing a smooth transition between two applications, the apparatus and method provides synchronization of the video and graphics components while transitioning from a first application to a second application. If there is no video component in either application, no action is needed to provide a smooth transition between applications, and when only the first application includes a video component, the video component need only be turned off for smooth transition between the applications to occur. When both the first application and the second application include video components, smooth transition between the applications according to the present invention is dependent upon the display window size of the first application in comparison to the second application. The apparatus and method of the present invention triggers a process according to the size of the display windows of the first and second applications.

This Patent application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/357,947, filed on Jan. 22, 2009, and entitled“Method Of And Apparatus For Maintaining Smooth Video Transition BetweenDistinct Applications” which is a continuation application of U.S. Pat.No. 7,492,414, filed on Mar. 21, 2006, and entitled “Method Of AndApparatus For Maintaining Smooth Video Transition Between DistinctApplications” which is a continuation application of U.S. Pat. No.7,053,956, filed on Mar. 27, 2003, and entitled “Method Of And ApparatusFor Maintaining Smooth Video Transition Between Distinct Applications.”The patent application Ser. No. 12/357,947, filed on Jan. 22, 2009, andentitled “Method Of And Apparatus For Maintaining Smooth VideoTransition Between Distinct Applications,” the U.S. Pat. No. 7,492,414,filed on Mar. 21, 2006, and entitled “Method Of And Apparatus ForMaintaining Smooth Video Transition Between Distinct Applications” andthe U.S. Pat. No. 7,053,956, filed on Mar. 27, 2003, and entitled“Method Of And Apparatus For Maintaining Smooth Video Transition BetweenDistinct Applications,” are all hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of application systems. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to the field of thetransition between distinct applications within a set-top box.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many hardware devices, a user can access applications that include agraphics component and a video component, and can transition to otherapplications having both components rather quickly. Such devicestypically include a number of applications which are stored in asecondary storage within the device. In current hardware devices, thegraphics component and the video component are not synchronized betweenapplications. When the graphics component and the video component arenot synchronized, the “tear-down” and “bring-up” of the applicationsbeing transitioned between become problematic. The transition may causeunsynchronized mixed graphics and video to have artifacts. For example,chroma color may be displayed when the video component is turned offprematurely. Such artifacts do not provide for a smooth transitionbetween applications. In particular, television set-top boxes andrelated interactive televisions include such problems when thetransition between applications occurs.

Set-top boxes are often used as intermediary devices between a contentsource, such as a personal computer or a remote cable televisionprovider, and a display device, such as a television. Often, set-topboxes include multiple applications including content menus and displayparameter settings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus formaintaining smooth video transition between distinct applications.Preferably, the apparatus implementing the present invention includes aprocessor, a secondary memory and a system memory. In providing a smoothtransition between two applications, the apparatus and method providessynchronization of the video and graphics components while transitioningfrom a first application to a second application. If there is no videocomponent in either application, no action is needed to provide a smoothtransition between applications, and when only the first applicationincludes a video component, the video component need only be turned offfor smooth transition between the applications to occur. When both thefirst application and the second application include video components,smooth transition between the applications according to the presentinvention is dependent upon the display window size of the firstapplication in comparison to the second application. The apparatus andmethod of the present invention triggers a process according to the sizeof the display windows of the first and second applications.

In one aspect of the present invention, a method transitions between afirst application having a video component and a second application. Themethod comprises receiving a selection of the second application by auser, de-activating the video component when the second application doesnot require the video component and synchronizing the video componentand a graphics component of the first application and the secondapplication when the second application does require the videocomponent, wherein transitioning causes the first application to beremoved from a first display frame and the second application to bedisplayed in a second display window. When the first display frame is afullscreen, synchronizing further comprises turning off the graphicscomponent, turning off a plurality of blend rectangles, bringing up thegraphics component and restoring the video component. When the firstdisplay frame is the same size as the second display frame,synchronizing further comprises turning off the graphics component,turning off the plurality of blend rectangles, bringing up the graphicscomponent and restoring the video component. When the first displayframe is not a fullscreen and the second display frame is a fullscreen,synchronizing further comprises turning off the graphics component,turning off the plurality of blend rectangles, setting the seconddisplay frame to full, bringing up the graphics component and restoringthe video component. When the first display frame is not a fullscreen,and the first display frame and the second display frame are not thesame size, synchronizing further comprises filling the graphicscomponent with black, turning off the video component, drawing a newgraphics component and restoring the video component. The graphicscomponent is chroma color. Synchronizing is not needed when the firstapplication and the second application do not include the videocomponent. The method further comprises displaying the first displayframe and the second display frame on a display device, wherein thedisplay device is a television.

In another aspect of the present invention, a playback device fortransitioning between a first application having a video component and asecond application comprises means for receiving a selection of thesecond application by a user, means for de-activating the videocomponent when the second application does not require the videocomponent and means for synchronizing the video component and a graphicscomponent of the first application and the second application when thesecond application does require the video component, whereintransitioning causes the first application to be removed from a firstdisplay frame and the second application to be displayed in a seconddisplay window. When the first display frame is a fullscreen, the meansfor synchronizing further comprises means for turning off the graphicscomponent, means for turning off a plurality of blend rectangles, meansfor bringing up the graphics component and means for restoring the videocomponent. When the first display frame is the same size as the seconddisplay frame, the means for synchronizing further comprises means forturning off the graphics component, means for turning off a plurality ofblend rectangles, means for bringing up the graphics component and meansfor restoring the video component. When the first display frame is not afullscreen and the second display frame is a fullscreen, the means forsynchronizing further comprises means for turning off the graphicscomponent, means for turning off the plurality of blend rectangles,means for setting the second display frame to full, means for bringingup the graphics component and means for restoring the video component.When the first display frame is not a fullscreen, and the first displayframe and the second display frame are not the same size, the means forsynchronizing further comprises means for filling the graphics componentwith black, means for turning off the video component, means for drawinga new graphics component and means for restoring the video component.The graphics component is chroma color. The means for synchronizing isnot needed when the first application and the second application do notinclude the video component. The playback device further comprises meansfor displaying the first display frame and the second display frame,wherein the means for displaying is a television.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a playback devicetransitions between a first application having a video component and asecond application, the playback device comprises an input/outputinterface configured to receive a selection of the second application bya user, a de-activating component configured to de-activate the videocomponent when the second application does not require the videocomponent and a synchronizing component configured to synchronize thevideo component and a graphics component of the first application andthe second application when the second application does require thevideo component, wherein the transition causes the first application tobe removed from a first display frame and the second application to bedisplayed in a second display window. When the first display frame is afullscreen, the synchronizing component is further configured to turnoff the graphics component, turn off a plurality of blend rectangles,bring up the graphics component and restore the video component. Whenthe first display frame is the same size as the second display frame,the synchronizing component is further configured to turn off thegraphics component, turn off a plurality of blend rectangles, bring upthe graphics component and restore the video component. When the firstdisplay frame is not a fullscreen and the second display frame is afullscreen, the synchronizing component is further configured to turnoff the graphics component, turn off the plurality of blend rectangles,set the second display frame to full, bring up the graphics componentand restore the video component. When the first display frame is not afullscreen, and the first display frame and the second display frame arenot the same size, the synchronizing component is further configured tofill the graphics component with black, turn off the video component,draw a new graphics component and restore the video component. Thegraphics component is chroma color. The means for synchronizing is notneeded when the first application and the second application do notinclude the video component. The playback device further comprises meansfor displaying the first display frame and the second display frame,wherein the means for displaying is a television. The de-activatingcomponent and the synchronizing component are configured within aprocessor.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a device comprises aprocessor and a system memory including a first application having avideo component and a second application, wherein the first applicationis displayed in a first display frame, such that in operation when thesecond application is selected by a user, the processor transitionsbetween the first application and the second application byde-activating the video component when the second application does notrequire the video component and synchronizing the video component and agraphics component of the first application and the second applicationwhen the second application does require the video component, whereinthe transition causes the first application to be removed from the firstdisplay frame and the second application to be displayed in a seconddisplay window. When the first display frame is a fullscreen, theprocessor synchronizes by turning off the graphics component, turningoff a plurality of blend rectangles, bringing up the graphics componentand restoring the video component. When the first display frame is thesame size as the second display frame, the processor synchronizes byturning off the graphics component, turning off a plurality of blendrectangles, bringing up the graphics component and restoring the videocomponent. When the first display frame is not a fullscreen and thesecond display frame is a fullscreen, the processor synchronizes byturning off the graphics component, turning off the plurality of blendrectangles, setting the second display frame to full, bringing up thegraphics component and restoring the video component. When the firstdisplay frame is not a fullscreen, and the first display frame and thesecond display frame are not the same size, the processor synchronizesby filling the graphics component with black, turning off the videocomponent, drawing a new graphics component and restoring the videocomponent. The graphics component is chroma color. The processor willnot synchronize when the first application and the second application donot include the video component. The processor will display the firstdisplay frame and the second display frame on a display device, whereinthe display device is a television.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a set-top box comprisesa processor and a system memory including a first application having avideo component and a second application, wherein the first applicationis displayed in a first display frame, such that in operation when thesecond application is selected by a user, the processor transitionsbetween the first application and the second application byde-activating the video component when the second application does notrequire the video component and synchronizing the video component and agraphics component of the first application and the second applicationwhen the second application does require the video component, whereinthe transition causes the first application to be removed from the firstdisplay frame and the second application to be displayed in a seconddisplay window. When the first display frame is a fullscreen, theprocessor synchronizes by turning off the graphics component, turningoff a plurality of blend rectangles, bringing up the graphics componentand restoring the video component. When the first display frame is thesame size as the second display frame, the processor synchronizes byturning off the graphics component, turning off a plurality of blendrectangles, bringing up the graphics component and restoring the videocomponent. When the first display frame is not a fullscreen and thesecond display frame is a fullscreen, the processor synchronizes byturning off the graphics component, turning off the plurality of blendrectangles, setting the second display frame to full, bringing up thegraphics component and restoring the video component. When the firstdisplay frame is not a fullscreen, and the first display frame and thesecond display frame are not the same size, the processor synchronizesby filling the graphics component with black, turning off the videocomponent, drawing a new graphics component and restoring the videocomponent. The graphics component is chroma color. The processor willnot synchronize when the first application and the second application donot include the video component. The processor will display the firstdisplay frame and the second display frame on a display device, whereinthe display device is a television.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary set-top box according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process of the present invention to synchronize thegraphics and video between applications.

FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for maintainingsmooth video transition between distinct applications. Preferably, thedevice implementing the present invention includes a processor, asecondary memory and a system memory. The system memory preferablyincludes random access memory (RAM) onto which a plurality ofapplications are loaded from the secondary memory. Applications are setto either an active state or an inactive state. In the active state, theprocessor actively processes the application and a portion of the systemmemory is used by the processor for active processing. In the inactivestate, neither the processor nor the portion of the system memorydedicated for active processing are used by the application. Preferably,only one application is in the active state at any given time. Whenmultiple applications are currently stored in RAM, one of theapplications is set to the active state while the other applications areset to the inactive state. When one of the inactive state applicationsis selected for use, the currently active state application isde-activated so that all applications stored in RAM are set to theinactive state. Then, the selected application is set to the activestate. In this manner, only one application is set to the active stateat any given time, even when switching from one application to another.

An apparatus and method of the present invention is implemented toprovide smooth transition between a first application in the activestate and a second application approaching the active state. The centralprocessing unit (CPU) first determines whether the first and secondapplications have video components. If both applications do not have avideo component, then no synchronization is needed. If the CPU detectsthat a video component is present in the first application, but notrequired in the second application, then the CPU will turn off the videocomponent in order to provide synchronization between the applications.If the CPU detects that the first application includes a video componentand the second application requires a video component, then the CPU willsynchronize the video and graphics components according to the graphicsstate of each application.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary set-top box according to the presentinvention. The set-top box preferably controls the transmission ofmultimedia from a local storage device, such as a personal computer(PC), to a television 90 or from a remote content provider, such as acable television provider, to the television 90. The set-top box 10includes an input/output (I/O) interface 20, a secondary memory 30, asystem memory 40, a central processing unit (CPU) 50, a user interface80, and a decoder 60 all coupled via a bi-directional bus 70. The I/Ointerface 20 preferably couples the set-top box 10 to a content source(not shown) for receiving multimedia and to the television 90 or otherdisplay device for displaying the multimedia received from the contentsource. The I/O interface 20 can also be coupled to a conventionalnetwork, such as the Internet, to receive periodic software upgradesincluding new versions of operating software and new or upgradedapplications. The I/O interface 20 also sends and receives controlsignals to and from the user interface 80 and the television 90. Theuser interface 80 preferably comprises a keypad and display, as is wellknown in the art. Alternatively, the user interface 80 comprises anyconventional user interface.

The secondary memory 30 stores the software used to enable operation ofthe set-top box 10 along with a plurality of applications. Exemplaryapplications include, but are not limited to a menu of available contentsuch as an on-screen television guide, and display parameter settingssuch as color, tint, and brightness. Preferably, the secondary memory 30is flash memory. Alternatively, any conventional type of memory can beused. Preferably, the system memory 40 includes random access memory(RAM). The system memory 40 can also include additional buffers,registers, and cache according to specific design implementations.Multimedia received by the set-top box 10 is preferably encrypted toprevent unauthorized access and use, and the decoder 60 decrypts themultimedia according to access authorization provided by the CPU 50.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b illustrate a method of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. In this preferred embodiment, a first application isthe application that is currently open and the second application isbeing transmitted to by the user. In step 302, it is determined whetherthe first application utilizes a video component. If the firstapplication does not include a video component, then the method ends. Ifthe first application does include a video component, then in step 304it is determined whether the second application utilizes a videocomponent. If the second application does not utilize a video component,then the video component of the first application is turned off in step306 before the method ends. If the second application utilizes a videocomponent, then the method moves on to step 308, where it is determinedwhether the first application utilizes a fullscreen display window. Ifthe first application does not utilize a fullscreen display window thenthe method determines in step 318 whether the second applicationutilizes a display window screen size identical to that of the firstapplication. If in step 318, the second application does utilize adisplay window screen size identical to that of the first application,or if in step 308 the first application utilizes a fullscreen displaywindow, then the method will advance to step 310.

Still referring to FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, in step 310 the graphics chromacomponent of the first application is turned off before the blendrectangles are turned off in step 312. The method continues the smoothtransition between the first application and the second application instep 314, where the new graphics of the second application are broughtup and displayed. Finally, in step 316 the new video state of the secondapplication is restored before the method ends. If it is determined atthe step 318, that the second application does not utilize a displaywindow screen size identical to that of the first application, then themethod proceeds to step 320.

In step 320, if the second application does not utilize a fullscreendisplay window, then the method proceeds to step 322. In step 322, thechroma graphics of the first application are filled with black. Then, instep 324 the video component of the first application is turned off. Instep 326, the new graphics of the second application are drawn, and instep 328, the new video state of the second application is restoredbefore the method ends.

If it is determined at the step 320 in FIG. 3 a, that the secondapplication does utilize a fullscreen display window, then the methodproceeds to step 330 in FIG. 3 b. In step 330, the chroma graphics ofthe first application are turned off. After the chroma is turned off,the blend rectangles are turned off in step 332. The display windowscreen size is then set to a fullscreen display window in step 334.After the display window screen size is set to fullscreen, the newgraphics of the second application are brought up in step 336. The newvideo state of the second application is then restored in step 338before the method ends.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary process of the present invention toprovide a smooth transition between a first application and a secondapplication by synchronizing the video component and the graphicscomponent. A first application 200 includes both a video frame 204 and agraphics frame 208 that are overlaid to produce the display frame 212.The display frame 212 produced by this first application contains both avideo image 206 and a graphics image 210. In the transition state 220,the video frame 222 again includes the video image 206. Here, thegraphics image 210 of the first application 200 is turned off in thetransition stage 220, while the new graphics images 230 for the secondapplication 240 are being drawn in the graphics frame 224. The graphicsimage 210 of the first application 200 is turned off by turning off thechroma color in the graphics frame 208 and keeping the chroma color offin the graphics frame 224 through the transition 220. Turning the chromacolor off “hides” the graphics image 210 by not displaying it on thescreen while the graphics images 230 of the second application 240 arebeing drawn. Therefore, the display frame 226 in the transition stage220 includes only the video image 206.

Still referring to FIG. 2, after the transition stage 220, the secondapplication 240 is activated and the video image 206 is restored in thevideo frame 242 of the second application 240. The graphics image(s) 230are now brought up in the graphics frame 244 of the second application240. The resulting display frame 246 includes the restored video image206 and new graphics image(s) 230. Thus, a smooth transition from thefirst application 200 to the second application 240 is achieved.

In operation, a system memory includes a plurality of applicationspreviously loaded from a secondary memory. One of the applications isset to an active state while the remaining applications are set to aninactive state. When one of the applications in the inactive state isselected for use, the application set to the active state (the firstapplication) must be returned to the inactive state, while theapplication selected for use (the second application) is made active.This operation includes taking down the graphics and video components ofthe first application while bringing up the video and graphics of thesecond application, which can cause artifacts to appear on the displayscreen if the mixed video and graphics components of the twoapplications are not synchronized. When the second application isselected, the apparatus and method of the present invention firstdetermines the video state of both applications. If neither applicationcontains a video component, then no synchronization is necessary. Ifonly the first application includes a video component, then the CPUsimply turns off the video component in order to provide a synchronizedtransition. In the case that both the first and second applicationsinclude video components, then the CPU will execute the appropriatemethod as described above, thereby providing a smooth transition betweenapplications through synchronization of the video and graphicscomponent.

In conclusion, the method and apparatus of the present inventionprovides smooth transition between two applications. Without thesynchronization of the video and graphics components of the twoapplications, artifacts oftentimes appear on the display screen duringtransition from the first application to the second application. Themethod and apparatus of the present invention eliminates such artifactsby performing a method based on the video and graphics states of thefirst and second application.

The present invention has been described in terms of specificembodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of theprinciples of construction and operation of the invention. Suchreferences, herein, to specific embodiments and details thereof are notintended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that modifications can be made inthe embodiments chosen for illustration without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. Specifically, it will be apparent toone of ordinary skill in the art that while the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention is used with set-top boxes, the present inventioncan also be implemented on any other appropriate system resource limiteddevice.

1. A method of transitioning between a first application having a videocomponent and a second application, the method comprising: a. receivinga selection of the second application by a user; and b. synchronizingthe video component and a graphics component of the first applicationand the second application, wherein when the first display frame is afullscreen, synchronizing further comprises: i. turning off the graphicscomponent; ii. turning off a plurality of blend rectangles; iii.bringing up the graphics component; and iv. restoring the videocomponent wherein transitioning causes the first application to beremoved from a first display frame and the second application to bedisplayed in a second display frame.
 2. A method of transitioningbetween a first application having a video component and a secondapplication, the method comprising: a. receiving a selection of thesecond application by a user; and b. synchronizing the video componentand a graphics component of the first application and the secondapplication, wherein when the first display frame is the same size asthe second display frame, synchronizing further comprises: i. turningoff the graphics component; ii. turning off a plurality of blendrectangles; iii. bringing up the graphics component; and iv. restoringthe video component wherein transitioning causes the first applicationto be removed from a first display frame and the second application tobe displayed in a second display frame.
 3. A method of transitioningbetween a first application having a video component and a secondapplication, the method comprising: a. receiving a selection of thesecond application by a user; and b. synchronizing the video componentand a graphics component of the first application and the secondapplication, wherein when the first display frame is not a fullscreenand the second display frame is a fullscreen, synchronizing furthercomprises: i. turning off the graphics component; ii. turning off aplurality of blend rectangles; iii. setting the second display frame tofull; iv. bringing up the graphics component; and v. restoring the videocomponent wherein transitioning causes the first application to beremoved from a first display frame and the second application to bedisplayed in a second display frame.
 4. A method of transitioningbetween a first application having a video component and a secondapplication, the method comprising: a. receiving a selection of thesecond application by a user; and b. synchronizing the video componentand a graphics component of the first application and the secondapplication, wherein when the first display frame is not a fullscreen,and the first display frame and the second display frame are not thesame size, synchronizing further comprises: i. filling the graphicscomponent with black; ii. turning off the video component; iii. drawinga new graphics component; and iv. restoring the video component whereintransitioning causes the first application to be removed from a firstdisplay frame and the second application to be displayed in a seconddisplay frame.
 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the graphicscomponent is chroma color.
 6. The method according to claim 1 whereinsynchronizing is not needed when the first application and the secondapplication do not include the video component.
 7. The method accordingto claim 1 further comprising displaying the first display frame and thesecond display frame on a display device.
 8. The method according toclaim 7 wherein the display device is a television.
 9. A playback devicefor transitioning between a first application having a video componentand a second application, the playback device comprising: a. means forreceiving a selection of the second application by a user; and b. meansfor synchronizing the video component and a graphics component of thefirst application and the second application, wherein when the firstdisplay frame is a fullscreen, the means for synchronizing furthercomprises: i. means for turning off the graphics component; ii. meansfor turning off a plurality of blend rectangles; iii. means for bringingup the graphics component; and iv. means for restoring the videocomponent wherein transitioning causes the first application to beremoved from a first display frame and the second application to bedisplayed in a second display frame.
 10. A playback device fortransitioning between a first application having a video component and asecond application, the playback device comprising: a. means forreceiving a selection of the second application by a user; and b. meansfor synchronizing the video component and a graphics component of thefirst application and the second application, wherein when the firstdisplay frame is the same size as the second display frame, the meansfor synchronizing further comprises: i. means for turning off thegraphics component; ii. means for turning off a plurality of blendrectangles; iii. means for bringing up the graphics component; and iv.means for restoring the video component wherein transitioning causes thefirst application to be removed from a first display frame and thesecond application to be displayed in a second display frame.
 11. Aplayback device for transitioning between a first application having avideo component and a second application, the playback devicecomprising: a. means for receiving a selection of the second applicationby a user; and b. means for synchronizing the video component and agraphics component of the first application and the second application,wherein when the first display frame is not a fullscreen and the seconddisplay frame is a fullscreen, the means for synchronizing furthercomprises: i. means for turning off the graphics component; ii. meansfor turning off a plurality of blend rectangles; iii. means for settingthe second display frame to full; iv. means for bringing up the graphicscomponent; and v. means for restoring the video component whereintransitioning causes the first application to be removed from a firstdisplay frame and the second application to be displayed in a seconddisplay frame.
 12. A playback device for transitioning between a firstapplication having a video component and a second application, theplayback device comprising: a. means for receiving a selection of thesecond application by a user; and b. means for synchronizing the videocomponent and a graphics component of the first application and thesecond application, wherein when the first display frame is not afullscreen, and the first display frame and the second display frame arenot the same size, the means for synchronizing further comprises: i.means for filling the graphics component with black; ii. means forturning off the video component; iii. means for drawing a new graphicscomponent; and iv. means for restoring the video component whereintransitioning causes the first application to be removed from a firstdisplay frame and the second application to be displayed in a seconddisplay frame.
 13. The playback device according to claim 9 wherein thegraphics component is chroma color.
 14. The playback device according toclaim 9 wherein the means for synchronizing is not needed when the firstapplication and the second application do not include the videocomponent.
 15. The playback device according to claim 9 furthercomprising means for displaying the first display frame and the seconddisplay frame.
 16. The playback device according to claim 15 wherein themeans for displaying is a television.
 17. A playback device totransition between a first application having a video component and asecond application, the playback device comprising: a. an input/outputinterface configured to receive a selection of the second application bya user; and b. a synchronizing component configured to synchronize thevideo component and a graphics component of the first application andthe second application, wherein when the first display frame is afullscreen, the synchronizing component is further configured to turnoff the graphics component, turn off a plurality of blend rectangles,bring up the graphics component and restore the video component; whereinthe transition causes the first application to be removed from a firstdisplay frame and the second application to be displayed in a seconddisplay frame.
 18. A playback device to transition between a firstapplication having a video component and a second application, theplayback device comprising: a. an input/output interface configured toreceive a selection of the second application by a user; and b. asynchronizing component configured to synchronize the video componentand a graphics component of the first application and the secondapplication, wherein when the first display frame is the same size asthe second display frame, the synchronizing component is furtherconfigured to turn off the graphics component, turn off a plurality ofblend rectangles, bring up the graphics component and restore the videocomponent; wherein the transition causes the first application to beremoved from a first display frame and the second application to bedisplayed in a second display frame.
 19. A playback device to transitionbetween a first application having a video component and a secondapplication, the playback device comprising: a. an input/outputinterface configured to receive a selection of the second application bya user; and b. a synchronizing component configured to synchronize thevideo component and a graphics component of the first application andthe second application, wherein when the first display frame is not afullscreen and the second display frame is a fullscreen, thesynchronizing component is further configured to turn off the graphicscomponent, turn off a plurality of blend rectangles, set the seconddisplay frame to full, bring up the graphics component and restore thevideo component; wherein the transition causes the first application tobe removed from a first display frame and the second application to bedisplayed in a second display frame.
 20. A playback device to transitionbetween a first application having a video component and a secondapplication, the playback device comprising: a. an input/outputinterface configured to receive a selection of the second application bya user; and b. a synchronizing component configured to synchronize thevideo component and a graphics component of the first application andthe second application, wherein when the first display frame is not afullscreen, and the first display frame and the second display frame arenot the same size, the synchronizing component is further configured tofill the graphics component with black, turn off the video component,draw a new graphics component and restore the video component; whereinthe transition causes the first application to be removed from a firstdisplay frame and the second application to be displayed in a seconddisplay frame.
 21. The playback device according to claim 17 wherein thegraphics component is chroma color.
 22. The playback device according toclaim 17 wherein the means for synchronizing is not needed when thefirst application and the second application do not include the videocomponent.
 23. The playback device according to claim 17 furthercomprising means for displaying the first display frame and the seconddisplay frame.
 24. The playback device according to claim 23 wherein themeans for displaying is a television.
 25. The playback device accordingto claim 17 wherein the de-activating component and the synchronizingcomponent are configured within a processor.
 26. A device comprising: a.a processor; and b. a system memory including a first application havinga video component and a second application, wherein the firstapplication is displayed in a first display frame, such that inoperation when the second application is selected by a user, theprocessor transitions between the first application and the secondapplication by synchronizing the video component and a graphicscomponent of the first application and the second application, whereinthe transition causes the first application to be removed from the firstdisplay frame and the second application to be displayed in a seconddisplay frame; wherein when the first display frame is a fullscreen, theprocessor synchronizes by turning off the graphics component, turningoff a plurality of blend rectangles, bringing up the graphics componentand restoring the video component.
 27. A device comprising: a. aprocessor; and b. a system memory including a first application having avideo component and a second application, wherein the first applicationis displayed in a first display frame, such that in operation when thesecond application is selected by a user, the processor transitionsbetween the first application and the second application bysynchronizing the video component and a graphics component of the firstapplication and the second application, wherein the transition causesthe first application to be removed from the first display frame and thesecond application to be displayed in a second display frame; whereinwhen the first display frame is the same size as the second displayframe, the processor synchronizes by turning off the graphics component,turning off a plurality of blend rectangles, bringing up the graphicscomponent and restoring the video component.
 28. A device comprising: a.a processor; and b. a system memory including a first application havinga video component and a second application, wherein the firstapplication is displayed in a first display frame, such that inoperation when the second application is selected by a user, theprocessor transitions between the first application and the secondapplication by synchronizing the video component and a graphicscomponent of the first application and the second application, whereinthe transition causes the first application to be removed from the firstdisplay frame and the second application to be displayed in a seconddisplay frame; wherein when the first display frame is not a fullscreenand the second display frame is a fullscreen, the processor synchronizesby turning off the graphics component, turning off a plurality of blendrectangles, setting the second display frame to full, bringing up thegraphics component and restoring the video component.
 29. A devicecomprising: a. a processor; and b. a system memory including a firstapplication having a video component and a second application, whereinthe first application is displayed in a first display frame, such thatin operation when the second application is selected by a user, theprocessor transitions between the first application and the secondapplication by synchronizing the video component and a graphicscomponent of the first application and the second application, whereinthe transition causes the first application to be removed from the firstdisplay frame and the second application to be displayed in a seconddisplay frame; wherein when the first display frame is not a fullscreen,and the first display frame and the second display frame are not thesame size, the processor synchronizes by filling the graphics componentwith black, turning off the video component, drawing a new graphicscomponent and restoring the video component.
 30. The device according toclaim 26 wherein the graphics component is chroma color.
 31. The deviceaccording to claim 26 wherein the processor will not synchronize whenthe first application and the second application do not include thevideo component.
 32. The device according to claim 26 wherein theprocessor will display the first display frame and the second displayframe on a display device.
 33. The device according to claim 32 whereinthe display device is a television.
 34. A set-top box comprising: a. aprocessor; and b. a system memory including a first application having avideo component and a second application, wherein the first applicationis displayed in a first display frame, such that in operation when thesecond application is selected by a user, the processor transitionsbetween the first application and the second application bysynchronizing the video component and a graphics component of the firstapplication and the second application, wherein the transition causesthe first application to be removed from the first display frame and thesecond application to be displayed in a second display frame; whereinwhen the first display frame is a fullscreen, the processor synchronizesby turning off the graphics component, turning off a plurality of blendrectangles, bringing up the graphics component and restoring the videocomponent.
 35. A set-top box comprising: a. a processor; and b. a systemmemory including a first application having a video component and asecond application, wherein the first application is displayed in afirst display frame, such that in operation when the second applicationis selected by a user, the processor transitions between the firstapplication and the second application by synchronizing the videocomponent and a graphics component of the first application and thesecond application, wherein the transition causes the first applicationto be removed from the first display frame and the second application tobe displayed in a second display frame; wherein when the first displayframe is the same size as the second display frame, the processorsynchronizes by turning off the graphics component, turning off aplurality of blend rectangles, bringing up the graphics component andrestoring the video component.
 36. A set-top box comprising: a. aprocessor; and b. a system memory including a first application having avideo component and a second application, wherein the first applicationis displayed in a first display frame, such that in operation when thesecond application is selected by a user, the processor transitionsbetween the first application and the second application bysynchronizing the video component and a graphics component of the firstapplication and the second application, wherein the transition causesthe first application to be removed from the first display frame and thesecond application to be displayed in a second display frame; whereinwhen the first display frame is not a fullscreen and the second displayframe is a fullscreen, the processor synchronizes by turning off thegraphics component, turning off a plurality of blend rectangles, settingthe second display frame to full, bringing up the graphics component andrestoring the video component.
 37. A set-top box comprising: a. aprocessor; and b. a system memory including a first application having avideo component and a second application, wherein the first applicationis displayed in a first display frame, such that in operation when thesecond application is selected by a user, the processor transitionsbetween the first application and the second application bysynchronizing the video component and a graphics component of the firstapplication and the second application, wherein the transition causesthe first application to be removed from the first display frame and thesecond application to be displayed in a second display frame; whereinwhen the first display frame is not a fullscreen, and the first displayframe and the second display frame are not the same size, the processorsynchronizes by filling the graphics component with black, turning offthe video component, drawing a new graphics component and restoring thevideo component.
 38. The set-top box according to claim 34 wherein thegraphics component is chroma color.
 39. The set-top box according toclaim 34 wherein the processor will not synchronize when the firstapplication and the second application do not include the videocomponent.
 40. The set-top box according to claim 34 wherein theprocessor will display the first display frame and the second displayframe on a display device.
 41. The set-top box according to claim 40wherein the display device is a television.